Catherine Fallona

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Academic Degrees

Ph.D., University of Arizona

M.Ed., University of Arizona

B.S., University of Maine

Profile

Professional Profile

Dr. Fallona is Professor and Director of the Center of Education Policy, Applied Research and Evaluation (CEPARE) with a faculty appointment in the Literacy, Language and Culture Program housed within the School of Education and Human Development. She conducts applied and policy educational research. Her research interests include studying novice and expert teachers' actions, intentions, and ways of thinking about teaching and learning related to the democratic and moral missions of schooling. Presently, she is a member of the CEPARE team serving as external evaluators to the Master of Arts in Teaching located at the American Museum of Natural History. Additional projects she is also currently working on include participating as a member of the Maine Learning Technology program evaluation team and as a member of the team of researchers conducting research on the proficiency based diploma system. Recently, she engaged as a member of the research team for the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) that completed a study identifying distinguishing characteristics of a sample of Maine’s improving schools.

Dr. Fallona has served in many leadership roles at the University of Southern Maine. In addition to her role as CEPARE Director, she is currently serving as the Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Public Policy with a Concentration in Education Leadership and Policy, the Director of the Literacy Education Practicum, and the Title III Faculty Fellow for Faculty Professional Development. She has served as Associate Dean, Director of Teacher Education, Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Coordinator of the Teachers for Elementary and Middle Schools Program. Dr. Fallona has taught courses including Data Collection and Analysis, Language and Literacy Development, Children’s Literature, Reading Development and Instruction, Teaching Reading, Curriculum Design and Teaching, Learning and Assessment. Prior to joining the USM faculty in 2000, Dr. Fallona was assistant professor of elementary education at the University of Georgia.